Sources Say Gypsies Interested in Coyotes

It has been no secret in NHL circles that vultures are starting to circle the wagons in Glendale, Arizona. "The wagons" being Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes, of course. The Coyotes are said to be in dire financial straits and commissioner Gary Bettman has been desperate to find a buyer.

Sources close to the commissioner say that Bettman has had little luck in finding a buyer to purchase the Coyotes, who are said to be literally almost worthless. With no other alternatives and a strong repudiation for Jim Balsillie, Bettman has searched high and low to find a buyer so the Coyotes do not fold -- something that would be a huge black eye for any professional sport.

According to these same sources Bettman was finally, amazingly, able to locate an interested party last week. A group of gypsies recently took up residence in nearby Buckeye, Arizona and is reportedly interested in buying the Coyotes. Negotiations took place over the weekend and talks are said to have been going smoothly for both sides.

At this time a deal is still in the works but it is believed that the gypsies will take the Coyotes in exchange for two dogs, $100,000 and a 1996 Geo Prizm. TSN first reported that the gypsies simply challenged Bettman to a fight but that deal fell through after it was revealed how heavily indebted the Coyotes are.